When will Honda’s first electric vehicles be available in Australia?

The first Honda electric vehicles coming to Australia could arrive here sooner than previously expected, with a timeline within the next three years.

Reports from a roundtable with Honda Australia boss Carolyn McMahon in March 2023 suggest the brand will not launch an electric vehicle locally within the next five years, setting 2028 as the year the first model will be available. can be expected.

However, speaking last week at the launch of the new Accord, Ms McMahon set out to correct the record, insisting the widely reported 2028 figure was incorrect – but did not specify a new date.

“I think this time last year we were talking about our mid-term plan, some people said 2028 [for the first EV’s launch]”, Ms. McMahon told the media.

“It will be sooner than that. I can’t tell you exactly at this point because we’re still solidifying that, but basically, we’re working very hard for Honda to introduce the electric battery. [vehicles] into the Australian market.”

While Honda now offers a hybrid variant for every model in its local range, it has never sold an electric vehicle in Australia – although imports of the Honda e city e-scooter are now defunct on the market. The gray market was conducted through third-party companies.

Currently, Honda is currently producing a certain number of electric vehicles in China, Europe, Thailand and in cooperation with General Motors in Mexico.

They recently discontinued their European focus e hatchback but has begun exporting Chinese e:Ny1 to Europe. The small crossover model is also produced in Thailand.

The automaker plans to launch a total of 30 electric vehicles globally by 2030 with more models coming from Japan and other countries.

Honda also announced it will invest C$15 billion (A$16.8 billion) with an unnamed joint venture partner to establish an electric vehicle battery and assembly plant in Ontario, Canada for the North American school.

Asked if any of these regions had been shortlisted or ruled out as sources of electric vehicle supply for Australia, Ms McMahon said supply would be based on which production lines could Meet local compliance regulations.

“We will work wherever possible to meet the compliance requirements of this market and be able to meet the majority of consumer requests from the market,” Ms. McMahon said.

“At the moment we are not ruling anything out, unfortunately I cannot comment on specifics today.”

Of the nine Japanese car manufacturers operating in Australia, five sell electric vehicles: Toyota, Lexus, Mazda, Nissan and Subaru. Suzuki, Isuzu Ute, Mitsubishi and Honda currently do not offer battery-powered vehicles to domestic buyers.

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